Articulator for constructing artificial teeth

ABSTRACT

An articulator for the construction of artificial teeth or dentures which is of the type embodying a fixed base plate, a movable base plate, and a pair of support means for interconnecting such base plates with one another. Each support means can be individually adjusted in length.

United States Patent Gerber [4 Nov, 20, 1973 [54] ARTICULATOR FORCONSTRUCTING 2,909,837 10/1959 Gerber 32/32 ARTIFICIAL TEETH 3,423,8341/1969 Irish 32/32 [76] inventor: a g gzg Primary ExaminerAntonio F.Guida Assistant ExaminerJ. Q. Lever [22] Filed: Oct. 21, 1971Att0rney-Brenner, OBrien & Guay [21] Appl. No.: 191,193

[57] ABSTRACT 52 U.S. Cl. 32/32 An articulator for the Construction ofartificial teeth 51 Int. Cl. A61c 11/00 or dentures which is of the pembodying a fixed [58] Field of Search 32/32 base Plate, a movable basePlate, and a P of pp means for interconnecting such base plates with one56 References Cited another. Each support means can be individually ad-UNITED STATES PATENTS Justed length- 2,688,80O 9/1954 Gerber 32/32 3Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ARTICULATOR FOR CONSTRUCTING ARTIFICIAL TEETHBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new andimproved device for use in prosthodontics, and more specificallyconcerns itself with a so-called articulator for the construction ofartificial teeth or dentures and which is of the type incorporating astationary or fixed base plate and a movable base plate, these baseplates being connected with one another by supports.

Articulators are already known in the art for the purpose ofconstructing artificial teeth wherein the supports possess non-variablelengths. Articulators are also known where the length of the supportscan be changed, however this change in length must be by the same amountfor both supports. With these types of prior art articulators it ispossible to readily construct artificial teeth provided that the planesof both halves of the artificial bite or denture are parallel. Howeveras a practical matter, this situation does not always arise. Forinstance, if half of the teeth are missing at one side of the naturalbite then there can occur a narrowing of the gap of the correspondingjaw socket or articulation, and the planes of both halves of the biteare no longer parallel. Furthermore, the aforementioned narrowing of thegap can also arise owing to occlusion of artificial teeth if such areused over a long period of time.

The narrowing of the gap of the jaw socket can be ascertained by X-raydiagnosis and it is desirable, during the construction of artificialteeth, to also take this condition into account.

Prior art articulators of the type wherein the length of the supportseither could not be changed at all or only simultaneously adjusted bythe same amount for both supports, do not permit taking into account thenarrowing of the changed gap at the socket or joint of the jaw.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it will be seen from what has beendiscussed above that the prior art is still in need of a device for theconstruction of artificial teeth or dentures which is not associatedwith the aforementioned limitations and drawbacks of the prior artconstruction. Hence a primary object of the present invention is toprovide a novel construction of such device, namely an articulator forthe production of artificial teeth or dentures in a manner whicheffectively and reliably fulfills the existing need in the art andovercomes the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the heretoforeknown constructions.

Another and more specific object of the present invention relates to anovel construction of articulator which enables enlarging thepathologically narrowed spaces of the jaw socket or joint, dependingupon the examination results, and specifically by an amount required forproper therapeutic treatment.

Now in order to implement these and still further objects of thisinvention, which will become more readily apparent as the descriptionproceeds, the inventive articulator is manifested by the features thateach support can be individually adjusted with regard to its length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understoodand objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent whenconsideration is given to the following detailed descripiton thereof.Such descripition makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an articulator constructed in accordancewith the teachings of this invention; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are front views of the plate-shaped components of thesupports of the articulator depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now thedrawings, the articulator illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 1 3will be seen to embody a fixed base plate 1 and a movable base plate 2.The fixed base plate 1 and the movable base plate 2 are equipped withsuitable means 3, here shown as openings, for attaching thereto suitableimpressions or reproductions of the bite of the patient. To the movablebase plate 2 there is secured a shaft member 41 equipped at both endswith a respective guide portion 5. Each of those guide portions 5possesses the configuration of a geometric body of rotation, andspecifically that of two truncated cones which abut one another at theirsmaller base surfaces. Furthermore, the transition location between bothouter surfaces or jackets of the truncated cones is advantageouslyslightly rounded.

Continuing, it will be recognized that the fixed base plate 1 isprovided at both sides with a respective support 6 which is fixedlyconnected therewith. The top portion or marginal region of each support6 is provided with a transverse bore 6a and both of these bores 6a ofboth supports 6 are disposed along a common horizontal axis. A disc 7 isrotatably mounted in each such bore 6a. Near the region of thetransverse bore 6a there is formed a small opening 8 at the associatedsupport 6. In each such opening 8 there is mounted a screw (not shown)and upon the shaft of such screw there is threaded an adjusting nut 9which simultaneously serves to prevent axial displacements of the discs7 and to selectively secure the discs 7 against rotation.

Each of the discs 7 is provided with a radially extending elongatedaperture or hole lit], the boundary wall of which is substantiallyconical in cross-section over its entire length and therefore forms asupport or bearing portion for the corresponding guide portion or piece5 which is displaceable within each such associated elongated hole 10.The periphery of the elongated hole 10 is formed from two circular arcs10a and 10b and two tangent lines which connect these circular arcs withone another. One of the circular arcs, such as arc 10a, isconcentrically arranged with regard to the center of rotation of thedisc 7 and possesses a radius which is approximately 1.5 times greaterthan the smallest radius of the guide portion 5 at its transitionlocation. The radius of the other circular arc 10b is the same size asthe smallest radius of such guide portion 5.

From this relationship it will be understood that when the movable baseplate 2 together with both of its guide portions of pieces 5 issupported at the lowest location of each of both support or bearingportions and thereafter the discs 7 are rotated for the purpose ofchanging the inclination of the lower linear section of the elongatedholes 10 the guide portions or pieces 5 do not change their positionbecause the support or bearing portion then defines a circular arc whichis concentric to the axis of rotation of the discs 7.

Each of the aforementioned supports 6 consists of two components whichcan be displaced relative to one another, of which the respective firstcomponent 11 carries the discs 7. This disc 7 cooperates with one of theassociated guide portions of the movable base plate 2. The secondrelatively displaceable component 12 of each support 6 is directlyfixedly connected in a suitable manner with a fixed base plate 1.

Now in FIGS. 2 and 3 there is again illustrated the first component 11of each support 6 which, as shown, is constructed in the form of anelongated plate member. This plate member 11 will be seen to be providedat its lower region or terminal portion with two oppositely situatedelongated holes 13 and 14. These elongated holes or apertures 13 and 14cooperate with screws 15 and 16, best seen by referring to FIG. 1, whichscrews can be connected, for instance by establishing a threadableconnection, with the second component 12 of the support 6.

The elongated holes 13 and 14 are covered by a bracket or strap 17, asbest seen by referring to FIG. 3, and this bracket 17 is also providedwith two holes or apertures 18 and 19 which in this case however arecircular. These two last-mentioned l8 and 19 possess a diameter whichcorresponds to the diameter of the screws 15 and 16 so that the bracket17 is maintained fixed in position by these screws.

As already mentioned the screws 15 and 16 piercingly extend through theelongated holes 13 and 14 in the plate-shaped component 11 of thesupport 6. The large dimension of each of these elongated holes 13 and14 is oriented in the lengthwise direction of the associated support 6,as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The plate-shaped component 11 of eachsupport 6 can therefore be displaced with respect to the lower component12 of such support 6 after releasing the nuts 20 and 21 operativelyassociated with the screws 15 and 16. The path through which bothcomponents 11 and 12 of any given support 6 can be displaced relative toone another corresponds to the size of the lengthwise dimension of theelongated holes 13 and 14. It has been found desirable to permit alengthwise adjustment of the supports 6 in a range of approximately zeroto L2 millimeters.

Now the adjustment of the length of the supports 6 can take place eitheronly at one support or at each support separately by an amount whichcorresponds to the examination determination or diagnosis, for instanceestablished by X-rays. It is possible to fix the adjusted lengths ofeach support 6 which has been appropriately regulated by merelytightening the associated nut members 20 and 21.

In order to be able to readily carry out the desired adjustment of thelength of each of these supports in accordance with the examinationresults or diagnosis, and specifically with the necessary accuracy boththe bracket 17 as well as the portion of each plate member 11 situatedbelow such bracket 17 are provided with an appropriate scale or marking,these scales collectively forming a vemier scale arrangement indicatedby reference character 30. After adjusting the desired length of thesupport or supports 6, on the basis of the vemier scale 30 and aftertightening the nut members 20 and 21 it is then possible to carry outthe required adjustment work at both halves of the artificial bite.

Now in FIGS. 2 and 3 there has additionally been depicted two furtherelongated holes or apertures 22 and 23, serving for appropriatelyguiding a suitable fixation or locking element 24, depicted by way ofexample in FIG. 1 in the form of a toothed element. Each of theselocking elements 24 engages by means of a nonillustrated hook-shapedprojection with the guide portion piece 5 and maintains such guideportion 5 in engagement with the lower supporting or contact surface ofthe associated elongated hole 10. A screw 25 extends through theuppermost opening 22 and serves to secure the locking element 24 indesired position, and in the next lower situated opening 23 there ismounted a guide pin 26 connected with such locking element 24.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practicedwithin the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An articulator for use in the construction of artificial teethcomprising a fixed base plate;

a movable base plate with a pair of guide portions extending therefrom;

a pair of support components fixedly connected to the fixed base plate;

a pair of elongated plate members, each of said pair of elongated platemembers having (a) an aperture displacably supporting a respective oneof the pair of guide portions and (b) an elongated hole; and

threaded means extending through each of the elongated holes adjustablysecuring each of the pair of elongated plate members to a respective oneof the pair of support components.

2. An articulator as defined in claim 1 which includes a bracket held bythe threaded means over each of the elongated plate members in aposition fixedly maintained relative to the respective supportcomponent; and

vemier scale means on each bracket and a portion of each elongated platemember for determining the adjustment of each elongated plate relativeto the respective support component.

3. An articulator as defined in claim 2 wherein each of the elongatedplate members can be independently adjusted relative to a respectivesupport component through a range of approximately zero to 1.2millimetGX'S.

Patent No. 3,772,788 Dated November 20, 1973 Inventor(s) ALBERT ERBER Itis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the title page, after "Appl, No. 191, 193" insert --[30] ForeignApplication Priority Data October 22, 1970 Switzerland. .15 625/70--.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of April 197A.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWAl'iD PLFLETCHERJR. C, MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commis sionerof Patents 1 FORM PO-IOSO (10-69] USCOMM-DC 6037 6-F 89 i U,S.GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I969 0-366-334

1. An articulator for use in the construction of artificial teethcomprising a fixed base plate; a movable base plate with a pair of guideportions extending therefrom; a pair of support components fixedlyconnected to the fixed base plate; a pair of elongated plate members,each of said pair of elongated plate members having (a) an aperturedisplacably supporting a respective one of the pair of guide portionsand (b) an elongated hole; and threaded means extending through each ofthe elongated holes adjustably securing each of the pair of elongatedplate members to a respective one of the pair of support components. 2.An articulator as defined in claim 1 which includes a bracket held bythe threaded means over each of the elongated plate members in aposition fixedly maintained relative to the respective supportcomponent; and vernier scale means on each bracket and a portion of eachelongated plate member for determining the adjustment of each elongatedplate relative to the respective support component.
 3. An articulator asdefined in claim 2 wherein each of the elongated plate members can beindependently adjusted relative to a respective support componentthrough a range of approximately zero to 1.2 millimeters.